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I own a small and home- and internet-based business that specializes in tools and equipment that is used to maintain trails and outdoor facilities. I have customers throughout North America and some in the Caribbean.
My primary product line consists of wire rope hoists that are made in France. There are no comparable products manufactured in the United States.
Import tariffs on foreign steel have increased the price of these products and have diminished sales. Proposed tariffs on goods from Europe promise to raise prices again and will likely make these products too expensive for some of my customers.
Hundreds of my customers are federal agencies including the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. These agencies rely on credit cards to make purchases. Most of the credit cards for these entities have had their purchase limit set at $1 by the administration and I have processed less than four sales to these groups so far this year. My annual sales are one-half what they were last year.
My business is being destroyed.
Lester Kenway
Bangor
